October 18, 2012

A healthy smile is important at any stage of life. That’s because, from the moment your first tooth comes in, your smile is vulnerable. But through regular general and family dentistry, your doctor can help you avoid and treat such common conditions as tooth decay, gum disease, and others.

Prevention Is An Important Aspect of Family Dentistry

There are many ways a general and family dentist can help his patients. One is through dental sealants. As an effective family dentistry tool, dental sealants are applied directly to teeth, protecting vulnerable pits and grooves from harmful bacteria and plaque. Children are often the primary recipients of dental sealants, but adults can benefit from them as well.

Another great general and family dentistry tool is laser decay detection. With this revolutionary tool, a general dentist can quickly scan teeth for even the smallest signs of decay. As a result, cavities can be diagnosed sooner, rather than later, resulting in fillings that preserve more of your natural smile.

As great as dental sealants and laser decay detection are, though, they’re just part of a preventive process that includes twice yearly checkups and cleanings. Through regular checkups and cleanings, a family dentist can watch for changes in your smile over time and can suggest services or home care techniques to improve oral health. What’s more, through a professional cleaning, your teeth can be cleaned more thoroughly can they can be with just brushing and flossing alone.

Make Regular Checkups and Cleanings a Priority

To make sure that you and your family are thoroughly protected, contact your general dentist twice a year, or about every six months, for a regular checkup and cleaning. Through visits like these, your general and family dentist can help you maintain a healthy smile and an improved quality of life.